Language, whether formalised and written or just an oral tradition passed down over generations, is an essential part of human existence. It has existed in some form or another since the beginning of civilisation, constantly developing, evolving, and changing over time. Language is indeed a living example of intangible cultural heritage.
Sociologists claim that an infant is a biological individual, with no understanding of the workings of the world, and no means of communicating her experiences and emotions, however primal they may be. But as she learns to communicate and interact with her surroundings, she transforms into a social individual. It is through language that she learns to inhabit her environment, to interact with it, and to create her own identity in relation to it. And hence, the centrality of language to a person’s existence and worldview cannot be emphasised enough.
Language consists not only of words....
